Abstract

This thesis considers English euphemisms and their translation into Arabic from a linguistic
and translational perspective into Arabic. It consists of five main chapters.
In the first chapter, the researcher discusses the reasons for addressing this topic. The
definition, forms, and uses of euphemisms are addressed in detail. The nature of euphemism
in Arabic, sometimes referred to in Arabic as talattuf, is addressed.
In chapter one the hypotheses of the study are also introduced. The primary hypotheses
are:
1. There is a correlative relationship between a euphemistic expression in English and
its equivalent in Arabic: an English euphemism is normally best translated into
another euphemism in Arabic.
2. When difficulties exist in recognising the scope of meaning (lexical, phrasal, or
sentential) of English euphemisms, problems in translating them into Arabic are also
found.
3. When English euphemisms are translated literally, the target language text loses its
original communicative value.
The secondary hypotheses are:
1. When translating a metaphorical English euphemism into Arabic, the Arabic
counterpart is typically a metaphorical euphemism as well.
2. When translating a metonymical English euphemism into Arabic, the Arabic
counterpart is typically a metonymical euphemism as well.
3. When translating a euphemistic English overstatement / understatement into Arabic,
the Arabic counterpart is typically a euphemistic overstatement / understatement as
well.
4. When translating a euphemistic English reversal into Arabic, the Arabic counterpart is
typically a euphemistic reversal as well.
In chapter two, the researcher moves on to the relationships between euphemism and
other translation-related issues. He addresses the relations between euphemism and lexical
meaning, and those between euphemism and genre, register, and text types.
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